Fresh figures have revealed the complete amount Bradford Council has spent on agency and interim staff over a three-year span – a sum that opponents have labelled as ‘astonishing.’

After receiving information suggesting the Council’s expenditure on non-permanent personnel had grown relative to prior periods, the T&A filed a Freedom of Information enquiry with Bradford Council to secure particulars regarding spending on temporary staffing, including casual workers, agency staff, and consultants.

The information indicated that during the most recent financial year, running from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, a sum of £29,968,052 was directed toward temporary workers.

This amounts to almost £30 million on non-permanent staff within twelve months, surpassing £75 million across three years.

£6 Million Rise From Year to Year

In the 2023/24 financial year, the figure totalled £23,745,262, while in the 2024/25 financial year, expenditure reached £23,842,014.

This shows an extra £6 million was paid out on casual workers, agency employees, and consultants during the latest financial year compared with the previous year.

Annual Expenditure on Temporary Staff:

2023/2024 – £23,745,262

2024/2025 – £23,842,014

2025/2026 – £29,968,052

A spokesperson for Bradford Council said temporary staff are engaged to maintain vital services, provide particular expertise as needed, fulfil short-term operational requirements, and deliver flexibility when demands change swiftly. This approach often works out cheaper than creating permanent roles for limited-duration work. The council constantly reviews its use of temporary staff and, where feasible and when it proves more cost-effective, converts positions to permanent status.

Such spending draws serious alarm

A GMB official said these figures are astonishing. At a time when Bradford Council insists it is under financial pressure, almost £75 million has been spent on temporary, agency, and consultancy workers in just three years. This level of expenditure raises major concerns about what is being prioritised. Instead of forking out excessive agency fees and consultancy costs, including strategic appointments renewed every six months, the council should be channelling funds into permanent, directly employed staff who deliver essential services reliably. This approach represents not merely poor value for local taxpayers but also threatens job security and deepens workforce inequality, particularly as council leadership continues to grapple with the ongoing fallout from equal pay disputes. Bradford deserves a workforce strategy that genuinely values employees, rather than an endless cycle of agency arrangements that drain public funds.

Taxpayers across Bradford would understandably be worried

Benjamin Elks, grassroots development manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said people across Bradford would understandably be worried about their council’s reliance on temporary staff. With household budgets still under strain, ratepayers will want to know whether these significant sums can truly be justified. Bradford council must tackle wasteful spending and ensure value for money for local taxpayers.